California Democratic Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris are urging the Pentagon and Lincoln Military Housing to address health and safety issues in family housing at Camp Pendleton, in the wake of a recent Reuters investigative report detailing dozens of cases of military families dealing with hazards such as rodents and mold. The lawmakers’ letter asks whether DOD and Lincoln will provide a coordinated strategy to remedy the problems at Camp Pendleton’s housing, as well as whether the two will jointly assess other installations where “similar corrective actions should be implemented.”

The senators also ask whether DOD will provide recommendations on policy or legislative solutions to allow for greater accountability in public-private housing partnerships. Other questions include whether DOD:

will provide a report on military housing partner companies that have similarly been unable to meet the minimum health and safety standards expected for military families; and

will provide a plan to ensure those affected by health hazards receive medical treatment.

“We are extremely troubled that a culture has developed that appears to prize profit at the expense of the health and safety of our military families. In spite of current policy limitations, cooperation between the military and privatized housing companies should provide the best protection of our military families possible,” the letter states.